Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, program, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication apparatus which can perform communication in a system for performing communication during a predetermined period which repeatedly starts in a predetermined cycle and during which a beacon is transmitted or received receives signals during the predetermined period, and transmits information about the number of transmission sources of the received signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus, awireless communication method, a program, and a storage medium.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a wireless LAN system complying with IEEE802.11 hasbeen widely used. Along with this, there has been proposed a techniquein which a wireless LAN terminal readily discovers, with low powerconsumption, a wireless LAN application and information obtained bycommunication. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0036540describes Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN), defined by Wi-FiAlliance, for discovering a usable service and information before awireless LAN terminal is connected to a nearby wireless LAN compatibleterminal.

In NAN, a plurality of wireless LAN terminals form a cluster (to bereferred to as a NAN cluster hereinafter). During a discovery window(DW) as a cyclic period, the terminal joining the NAN clustertransmits/receives a signal (to be referred to as a sync beaconhereinafter) for indicating the period of the DW and a signal forsharing application information and the like. The DW is a period duringwhich the wireless LAN terminal joining the NAN cluster can share theexistence of the terminal and information about a service application. Aterminal which provides a service application transmits a serviceprovision signal during the period of the DW. A terminal which issearching for a service application transmits a service request signalduring the period of the DW.

In NAN, if a terminal detects a plurality of NAN clusters, it selects aNAN cluster to join based on the master preferences, for deciding tooperate in a master role, of terminals respectively operating in anchormater roles for deciding the timings of the DWs in the detected NANclusters.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In the conventional technique, when a terminal which is to newly join aNAN cluster discovers a plurality of NAN clusters, it selects and joinsone of the NAN clusters without knowing information about otherterminals joining each NAN cluster. Therefore, for example, a terminalwhich is to newly join a NAN cluster may select and join a NAN clusterin which it may not be able to use a desired service application.

In one aspect, a wireless communication apparatus communicatable in asystem in which a beacon is transmitted or received during a repeatedlypredetermined period, comprises: reception means for receiving signalsduring the predetermined period; and transmission means for transmittinginformation about the number of transmission sources of the signalsreceived by the reception means.

In another aspect, a wireless communication apparatus comprises:reception means for receiving a signal about Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) during a discovery window of NAN; and transmissionmeans for transmitting information about a scale of a NAN cluster towhich the wireless communication apparatus belongs, which is based oninformation received by the reception means.

In other aspect, a wireless communication apparatus comprises: receptionmeans for receiving a signal for discovering a network; and decisionmeans for deciding whether to join the network, based on informationabout the number of apparatuses joining the network, which is containedin the received signal.

In other aspect, a wireless communication method comprises: receiving,in a system in which a beacon is transmitted or received during arepeatedly predetermined period, signals during the predeterminedperiod; and transmitting information about the number of transmissionsources of the signals received in the receiving.

In other aspect, a wireless communication method comprises: receiving,by a communication apparatus, a signal about Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN) during a discovery window of NAN; and transmittinginformation about a scale of a NAN cluster to which the wirelesscommunication apparatus belongs, which is based on information receivedin the receiving.

In other aspect, a wireless communication method comprises: receiving asignal for discovering a network; and deciding whether to join thenetwork, based on information about the number of apparatuses joiningthe network, which is contained in the received signal.

It is possible to provide, to an apparatus which is to newly join anetwork, information for selecting a more appropriate network.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a wireless LAN system according to the first tothird embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of each ofSTAs 101 to 104 according to the first and fourth embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an STA hardware arrangement accordingto the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of terminal countcalculation processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of master preferencechange processing according to the first and fourth embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of discovery beacontransmission determination processing according to the first to fourthembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing an example of a sequence when thenumber of terminals which have transmitted signals is calculated and anearby terminal is notified of a change according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the functional arrangement ofeach of STAs 101 and 104 according to the second and third embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of terminal countcalculation processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of the structure of a beacon frameaccording to the second, third, and fourth embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a sequence chart showing an example of a sequence when thenumber of terminals which have transmitted signals is calculated and anearby terminal is notified of it according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of terminal countcalculation processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing an example of a sequence when thenumber of terminals which have transmitted signals is calculated and anearby terminal is notified of it according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a wireless LAN system, according to the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of terminal countcalculation processing according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of sync beacontransmission determination processing according to the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sequence chart showing an example of a sequence when thenumber of terminals which have transmitted signals is calculated and anearby terminal is notified of a change according to the fourthembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in detail below based onembodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Note that arrangements to be described in the followingembodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is notlimited to the illustrated arrangements.

First Embodiment

An example in which a wireless LAN system complying with the NeighborAwareness Networking (NAN) standard is used will be explained below. InNAN, service information is communicated during a period called a DW.The DW indicates the convergence time and channel of a plurality ofdevices for executing NAN. A set of terminals which share the scheduleof DWs is called a NAN cluster. Note that the DW is set in everypredetermined cycle.

Each terminal belonging to the NAN cluster operates in one of master,non-master sync, and non-master non-sync roles. Each terminal belongingto the NAN cluster can communicate a beacon during the DW. The terminaloperating in the master role transmits a synchronization beacon (to bereferred to as a sync beacon hereinafter) as a beacon for causing eachterminal to check the DW and synchronize with it. In addition, theterminal operating in the master role transmits a discovery beacon as asignal for causing a terminal, which does not belong to the NAN cluster,to recognize the NAN cluster. The discovery beacon is transmitted evenduring a period other than the DW periods for, for example, every 100TUs (Time Units) (1 TU corresponds to 1,024 μec). Note that at least oneterminal in each NAN cluster operates in the master role. Furthermore,in the NAN cluster, one master serves as an anchor master to determine atime reference in the NAN cluster, for example, decide the timings ofthe DWs.

The terminal operating in the non-master sync role transmits not adiscovery beacon but a sync beacon. The terminal operating in thenon-master non-sync role transmits neither a sync beacon nor a discoverybeacon.

Based on the master ranks of the respective terminals, a specific one ofthe terminals belonging to the NAN cluster is decided to operate in themaster or anchor master role. The master rank is calculated using amaster preference, random factor, and NAN interface address. The masterpreference indicates the possibility that the terminal plays the masterrole. This value can be freely set by each terminal. The masterpreference needs to take the same value for a given time but the valuecan be changed. The random factor is a random number which needs to bechanged every time a given time elapses. The NAN interface address is anaddress for identifying the terminal.

In accordance with the sync beacon, the terminal joining the NAN clustercommunicates service information during the DW period in synchronouswith the DW period set in every predetermined cycle. The terminalscommunicate, with each other, a subscribe signal as a signal fordiscovering or searching for a service and a publish signal as a signalfor sending a notification of provision of a service during the DWperiod. Furthermore, the respective terminals can exchange follow-upsignals for exchanging additional information about a service during theDW period. Note that the publish, subscribe, and follow-up signals willbe collectively referred to as service discovery frames (SDFs)hereinafter. The respective terminals can advertise or detect theservice by exchanging the SDFs. Each terminal joining the NAN clusterperforms communication using channel 6 (2.437 GHz) in a frequency bandof 2.4 GHz. In the NAN cluster, a DW of 16 TUs is set every 512 TUs.That is, in the NAN cluster, a DW of 16 TUs is repeatedly set every 512TUs. The respective terminals joining the NAN cluster synchronize theschedules of DWs by sync beacons transmitted/received during the DWs.

As the first embodiment, a case in which the total number of terminalsthat transmit sync beacons in a NAN cluster is calculated will bedescribed. The sync beacon is a signal for indicating a DW as a perioddefined in the NAN cluster. In this embodiment, a terminal operating inthe anchor master role changes its master preference based on the totalnumber of terminals which transmit sync beacons, and transmits adiscovery beacon containing information based on the changed masterpreference, thereby indirectly sending a notification of the number ofterminals. Among the master preference, random factor, and NAN interfaceaddress for determining the master rank, the master preference isrestricted to take the same value for a given period but the value canbe freely set.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a network configuration according to thisembodiment. A wireless LAN terminal (to be referred to as an STAhereinafter) 100 is a terminal which is to join a NAN cluster, and STAs101 to 104 are terminals which have already formed NAN clusters. TheSTAs 101 and 104 are terminals respectively operating in the anchormaster roles in the NAN clusters. A NAN cluster 105 represents a NANcluster formed from the STA 104. A NAN cluster 106 represents a NANcluster formed from the STAs 101 to 103.

The STA 100 can detect the plurality of NAN clusters by receivingdiscovery beacons from the terminals respectively operating in themaster roles in the NAN clusters 105 and 106. Each terminal operating inthe master role transmits the discovery beacon, for example, every 100TUs. However, if the discovery beacon transmission timing overlaps theperiod of the DW, the terminal operating in the master role transmits nodiscovery beacon.

The STA 101 is a terminal operating in the anchor master role in the NANcluster 106. The STA 104 is a terminal operating in the anchor masterrole in the NAN cluster 105. The STA 100 receives the discovery beaconsrespectively transmitted from the STAs 101 and 104, and decides, basedon pieces of information contained in the discovery beacons, one of theNAN clusters 105 and 106 to join. The STAs 102 and 103 are terminalsincluded in the NAN cluster 106, and signals from these terminals do notalways reach the STA 100. This embodiment has, as its feature, toperform, by each of the STAs 101 and 104, an operation to be describedbelow. Note that the STAs 101 and 104 have the same arrangement, andthus only the STA 101 will be described below in teems of the samepoints.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the STA 101 according tothis embodiment. A wireless LAN control unit 200 performs control totransmit/receive a wireless signal to/from another wireless LANapparatus. A NAN control unit 210 performs overall control of NAN, suchas a procedure of detecting a NAN cluster and joining it,synchronization with another terminal in the NAN cluster, and decisionof a role and a state in the NAN cluster.

A NAN signal reception control unit 220 controls reception of signalsduring the DWs defined in the NAN cluster. The terminal joining the NANcluster can receive signals (for example, the sync beacon, subscribesignal, publish signal, and the like) during each DW. A NAN signalidentification unit 230 identifies whether the received signal is aspecific type of signal. For example, the NAN signal identification unit230 reads the signal received by the NAN signal reception control unit220, and confirms whether the NAN cluster to which the STA 101 belongsis the same as that indicated by the received signal. A practical methodfor this processing will be described below. Each cluster has a specificcluster ID. The cluster ID of the NAN cluster to which the STA 101belongs is recorded in the STA 101, and the STA 101 contains, in asignal to be transmitted, the cluster ID of the NAN cluster to which itbelongs. The NAN signal identification unit 230 confirms whether thecluster ID contained in the received signal is equal to that recorded inthe STA 101. If the cluster ID contained in the received signal isdifferent from that recorded in the STA 101, the STA 101 examineswhether to join the NAN cluster of the cluster ID contained in thereceived signal.

Furthermore, the NAN signal identification unit 230 identifies whetherthe received signal is a sync beacon transmitted in the network to whichthe STA 101 belongs, that is, whether the received signal is the syncbeacon of the NAN cluster 106. The sync beacon is a signal which can betransmitted by each of a terminal operating in the master role and aterminal operating in the non-master sync role, and is a signal forindicating the period of the DW. If the received signal is the syncbeacon of the NAN cluster to which the STA 101 belongs, the NAN signalidentification unit 230 sends data to a terminal count calculation unit240 to calculate the number of terminals in the NAN cluster to which theSTA 101 belongs.

As will be described later, the terminal count calculation unit 240calculates the number of terminals which have transmitted the syncbeacons in the NAN cluster to which the STA 101 belongs. A masterpreference change control unit 250 determines whether the masterpreference can be changed. The master preference change control unit 250changes the master preference based on the number of terminalscalculated by the terminal count calculation unit 240. The NAN controlunit 210 performs control to generate a discovery beacon containing themaster preference, and the wireless LAN control unit 200 performscontrol to transmit the generated discovery beacon.

FIG. 3 shows the hardware arrangement of each of the STAs 100 to 104. Astorage unit 301 is formed by one or both of a ROM (Read Only Memory)and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores programs for performingvarious operations (to be described later) and various kinds ofinformation such as communication parameters for wireless communication.Note that instead of the memory such as the ROM or RAM, a storage mediumsuch as a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto optical disk,CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or DVD may be usedas the storage unit 301.

A control unit 302 is formed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU(Micro Processing Unit), and controls the overall apparatus by executingthe programs stored in the storage unit 301. Note that the control unit302 may control the overall STA 101 in cooperation with an OS (OperatingSystem) and the programs stored in the storage unit 301. The controlunit 302 controls a function unit 303 to execute predeterminedprocessing such as imaging, printing, and projection.

The function unit 303 is hardware for executing predeterminedprocessing. If, for example, the function unit 303 serves as an imagingunit, it performs imaging processing. If, for example, the function unit303 serves as a printing unit, it performs print processing. If, forexample, the function unit 303 serves as a projection unit, it performsprojection processing. Data processed by the function unit 303 may bedata stored in the storage unit 301 or data communicated with anotherSTA via a communication unit 306 (to be described later).

An input unit 304 accepts various operations from the user. An outputunit 305 performs various output operations to the user. The output fromthe output unit 305 includes at least one of display on a screen, avoice output from a loudspeaker, a vibration output, and the like. Notethat both of the input unit 304 and the output unit 305 may beimplemented by one module like a touch panel.

The communication unit 306 controls wireless communication complyingwith the IEEE802.11 series, and controls IP (Internet Protocol)communication. The communication unit. 306 controls an antenna 307 totransmit/receive a wireless signal for wireless communication. The STA101 communicates a content such as image data, document data, or videodata with the other STA via the communication unit 306.

A procedure for calculating the number of terminals which havetransmitted the sync beacons in the NAN cluster to which the STA 101belongs will be describe next with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is aflowchart illustrating an example of terminal count calculationprocessing. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 starts when the STA 101operates in the anchor master role and the DW of the NAN cluster towhich the STA 101 belongs comes. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 4is implemented when the control unit 302 of the STA 101 executes acontrol program stored in the storage unit 301 to execute calculationand processing of information and control of the respective hardwarecomponents. Note also that some or all of the steps of the flowchartshown in FIG. 4 may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC.

First, the NAN signal reception control unit 220 receives a signalduring only the period of the DW (YES in step S400 and step S401). TheNAN signal identification unit 230 identifies whether the receivedsignal is a signal about NAN (step S402). For example, the NAN signalidentification unit 230 identifies whether the received signal has aformat complying with the NAN standard, or whether the received signalcontains a NAN information element. Note that this step can be skipped.If the received signal is a signal about NAN (YES in step S402), the NANsignal identification unit 230 identifies whether the received signal isa signal from the NAN cluster (NAN cluster 106) to which the STA 101belongs (step S403). More specifically, the NAN signal identificationunit 230 confirms whether a cluster ID contained in the received signalis equal to that recorded in the STA 101.

If the received signal is the signal of the NAN cluster to which the STA101 belongs (YES in step S403), the NAN signal identification unit 230identifies whether the received signal is the sync beacon as an elementfor calculating the number of terminals (step S404). If the receivedsignal is the sync beacon (YES in step S404), the NAN signalidentification unit 230 notifies the terminal count calculation unit 240that the received signal is the sync beacon. Every time the notificationis received, the terminal count calculation unit 240 adds the number ofnotifications (that is, 1) to the total number (the initial value iszero) of sync beacons (step S405). During the DW period, the STA 101repeats the above processing (YES in step S406).

After the end of the DW period, based on the counted total number ofsync beacons, the terminal count calculation unit 240 calculates thenumber of terminals which transmit the sync beacons (step S407). Not allthe terminals joining the NAN cluster 106 can transmit the sync beacons.In this embodiment, the number of terminals capable of transmitting thesync beacons (the number of terminals as sync beacon transmissionsources) in the NAN cluster 106 is set as the number of terminals ofwhich the STA 100 is to be notified. The terminal count calculation unit240 saves a calculation result. The above processing is performed allthe time while NAN operates (while the NAN cluster is formed) (YES instep S406).

A procedure in which the STA 101 changes the master preference based onthe number of terminals calculated by the terminal count calculationunit 240 will be described next with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is aflowchart illustrating an example of master preference change processingaccording to this embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 starts everypredetermined time when the STA 101 operates in the anchor master role.Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is implemented when the controlunit 302 of the STA 101 executes a control program stored in the storageunit 301 to execute calculation and processing of information andcontrol of the respective hardware components. Note also that some orall of the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 may be implemented byhardware such as an ASIC.

Since the master preference change control unit 250 needs to maintainthe master preference at the same value for a given time (for example,240 DWs), it determines whether the given time has elapsed after thelast change (step S501). If the given time has elapsed (YES in stepS501), the master preference change control unit 250 determines whetherthe scale of the NAN cluster has changed after the last change of themaster preference. That is, the master preference change control unit250 determines whether the calculation result of the number of terminalsby the terminal count calculation unit 240 has changed after the lastchange of the master preference (step S502). If the scale of the NANcluster has changed (YES in step S502), the master preference changecontrol unit 250 changes the master preference as follows (step S503);otherwise (NO in step S502), the master preference change control unit250 does not change the master preference (step S504).(master preference)=((X)−1)+128  (1)X=(number of sync beacons)+1 [number of sync beacons<128]=2{circumflexover ( )}8 [number of sync beacons≥128]  (2)

Note that the above-described calculation processing is merely anexample. The number of transmission sources of pieces of serviceinformation received by the STA 101 may be directly set as the masterpreference, or a value according to the number of transmission sourcesof the pieces of service information received by the STA 101 may bedecided as the master preference.

A method in which the STA 101 notifies a nearby terminal of informationobtained by reflecting the number of terminals will be described withreference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example ofdiscovery beacon transmission determination processing according to thisembodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 starts when the DW of the NANcluster to which the STA 101 belongs comes. Note that the flowchartshown in FIG. 6 is implemented when the control unit 302 of the STA 101executes a control program stored in the storage unit 301 to executecalculation and processing of information and control of the respectivehardware components. Note also that some or all of the steps of theflowchart shown in FIG. 6 may be implemented by hardware such as anASIC.

Since the STA 101 operates in the anchor master role in the NAN cluster106 (YES in step S600), the NAN control unit 210 of the STA 101 reflectsthe value of the master preference in the anchor master rank to generatea discovery beacon. A terminal operating in the master role in the NANcluster 106 including the STA 101 notifies a nearby terminal of thediscovery beacon containing the anchor master rank (step S601). Thenotification processing is performed by the wireless LAN control unit200 in the STA 101. This allows a terminal, which does not join the NANcluster 106, to obtain information containing the number of terminalswhich transmit the sync beacons in the NAN cluster 106. Note that therole of the terminal may be different for each DW. The terminal joiningthe NAN cluster determines for each DW whether it operates in the masterrole (step S600). Note that the terminal which has determined that itdoes not operate in the master role in the NAN cluster 106 (NO in stepS600) transmits no discovery beacon (step S602).

FIG. 7 shows an example of a sequence when step S601 of FIG. 6 isexecuted. During the DW period defined in the NAN cluster 106, the STAs101, 102, and 103 transmit the sync beacons (S701). In accordance withthe flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the STA 101 measures the number ofterminals in the NAN cluster 106 based on the number of sync beaconstransmitted during the DW (S702). In the example of the configurationshown in FIG. 1, the number of terminals detected by the STA 101 is 3and the number of terminals detected by the STA 104 is 1. In accordancewith the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the STAs 101 and 104 set theirmaster preferences according to equation (1) (S703). More specifically,the STA 101 sets the master preference to ((3−1)+128=)130, and the STA104 sets the master preference to ((1−1)+128=)128.

Since the STA 101 operates in the anchor master role in the NAN cluster106, it transmits, to a nearby terminal, the discovery beacon containingthe value of the master preference of the STA 101 (S704). The STA 100reads values indicated by the master preferences or the like from thediscovery beacons received from the NAN clusters 105 and 106, andcalculates a CG (Cluster Grade). The CG is information used to select acluster which a terminal that has detected a plurality of clusters is tojoin. The CG is calculated by:CG=2{circumflex over ( )}64*A1+A2A1=master preference of anchor masterA2=8 octets of TSF value  (3)

For the value of the CG, the value of the master preference of theanchor master is prioritized over the TSF value, as described above.Thus, the STA 100 decides to join the NAN cluster 106 in which themaster preference of the anchor master is larger. As described above,the STA 100 can receive the information obtained by reflecting thenumber of terminals which have transmitted the sync beacons, and decideto join the NAN cluster in which the number is larger.

According to this embodiment, information about the scale of the clusteris reflected in the CG as information used to select a cluster.Therefore, the STA 100 which is to newly join a NAN cluster can join aNAN cluster whose scale is larger. Consequently, the probability thatthe STA 100 can detect another terminal capable of executing a serviceapplication desired by the STA 100 is increased.

In this embodiment, using the number of terminals which have transmittedthe sync beacons has the following advantages. That is, assuming thatthere exist terminals capable of transmitting the sync beacons at agiven rate among terminals joining each NAN cluster over the system, itis possible to fairly obtain pieces of information about the numbers ofterminals in a plurality of NAN clusters. Even if a terminal which is tonewly join requests or provides a service application, it can join a NANcluster in which the number of terminals is larger and desiredinformation is obtained at higher probability.

In this embodiment, changing the value of the master preference byreflecting the number of terminals has the following advantage. That is,if a terminal which is to newly join a NAN cluster discovers a pluralityof NAN clusters, it considers the values of the master preferences as areference for determining a NAN cluster to join, and need not analyzeother signals.

Note that a case in which the STA 101 changes the master preference inaccordance with the number of transmission sources of the receivedpieces of service information has been described above. However, the STA101 may transmit the discovery beacon or sync beacon by containing, init, information indicating the number of transmission sources of thereceived pieces of service information.

Furthermore, in the above description, the STA 101 has the arrangementof detecting the number of transmission sources of the received syncbeacons. However, the STA 101 may detect the number of terminals whichjoin the cluster, by including the transmission sources of terminalswhich transmit other SDFs.

Second Embodiment

As the second embodiment, a case in which the total number of terminalsthat transmit service request signals in a NAN cluster is calculated asthe number of terminals, a notification of which is to be sent will bedescribed. The service request signal to be described here indicates,for example, a subscribe signal complying with the NAN standard, whichis transmitted during the DW. The subscribe signal is a signaltransmitted to indicate the type and option of a service requested bythe terminal which transmits the signal.

In this embodiment, a terminal operating in the anchor master rolecalculates the number of terminals which transmit service requestsignals, and notifies a nearby terminal of it. Thus, a terminal which isto newly join a NAN cluster can select to join a NAN cluster in which alarger number of services have been requested. A description of the samepoints as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an STA 101 according tothis embodiment. This embodiment has, as its feature, to perform, byeach of the STA 101 and an STA 104, an operation to be described below.The STAB 101 and 104 have the same arrangement, and only the STA 101will be described. Details of the respective functions are the same asthose in FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment and a descriptionthereof will be omitted. The difference from the first embodiment isthat a NAN signal identification unit 830 identifies service requestsignals to calculate the number of terminals, and a terminal countcalculation unit 840 calculates the number of service request signals.

A procedure for calculating the number of terminals which havetransmitted service request signals in the NAN cluster will be describednext with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating anexample of terminal count calculation processing according to thisembodiment. Details of respective processes are the same as those inFIG. 4 described in the first embodiment and a description thereof willbe omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is that the NANsignal identification unit 830 identifies in step S904 whether areceived signal is a service request signal and the terminal countcalculation unit 840 calculates, in step S905, the number of servicerequest signals.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the structure of the beacon frame of adiscovery beacon. The beacon frame is based on the IEEE802.11 standard,and is formed from an FC (Frame Control), a duration, and the like. Inthe NAN standard, a NAN information element (to be referred to as a NANIE hereinafter) 1000 is defined as one of the components of the beaconframe. The NAN IE 1000 includes NAN attributes 1001. The NAN attributes1001 can include vendor specific attributes 1006. The terminal canfreely input information to the vendor specific attributes 1006. Thus,in this embodiment, the terminal operating in the anchor master roleadds an information type 1002 indicating that information input to thesubsequent field represents the number of terminals. The terminal alsoadds a length 1003 indicating the length of the field. The terminalsubsequently adds a signal type 1004 indicating that the service requestsignals are used as a reference for counting the number of terminals,and a signal count 1005 indicating the number of service request signals(that is, the number of terminals which transmit the service requestsignals). The terminal which is to newly join a NAN cluster can select aNAN cluster to join, by receiving and analyzing the information.

Processing in which the STA 101 notifies a nearby terminal of theinformation obtained by reflecting the number of terminals according tothis embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 described in thefirst embodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. In thisembodiment, however, a sequence when step S601 of FIG. 6 is executed isdifferent. This sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the sequence when step S601 of FIG. 6 isexecuted. During a DW period defined in a NAN cluster 106, STAs 102 and103 respectively transmit service request signals (S1101). The STA 101measures the number of service request signals transmitted during theDW, and saves the measured number in the terminal count calculation unit840 (S1102). In the example of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, thenumber of signals calculated by the STA 101 is 2 and the number ofsignals calculated by the STA 104 is 0. The STA 101 includes thecalculated number in the NAN attributes 1001 shown in FIG. 10, andtransmits the information as a discovery beacon. This allows the STA 100to receive the information containing the number of terminals as thetransmission sources of the service request signals transmitted in theNAN cluster 106.

As described above, in this embodiment, the terminal operating in theanchor master role notifies a nearby terminal of the number of terminalswhich have transmitted the service request signals, thereby obtainingthe following advantages. That is, if a terminal which is to newly joina NAN cluster discovers a plurality of NAN clusters, it can join a NANcluster which requests a larger number of services. Furthermore, if aterminal belonging to a NAN cluster in which a small number of serviceshave been requested receives the discovery beacon of a NAN cluster inwhich the number of service request signals is large, it can join theNAN cluster. Consequently, a terminal joining a NAN cluster in which thenumber of terminals each requesting a service is large can provide aservice to many terminals, as compared with a case in which the terminalsimply joins a NAN cluster in which the number of terminals is large.

More specifically, consider a case in which a terminal that is to newlyjoin a NAN cluster can provide a service. Assume that the terminaldiscovers the following two NAN clusters. One of the clusters is thefirst NAN cluster which many terminals join and which includes manyterminals each providing a service. The other is the second NAN clusterwhich a smaller number of terminals join and which includes a largernumber of terminals each issuing a service request, as compared with thefirst NAN cluster. Assuming that a terminal desires to provide a serviceto a larger number of terminals, the terminal desirably joins the secondNAN cluster. According to this embodiment, the terminal can join thesecond NAN cluster to provide the service to a larger number ofterminals. For a terminal which joins a NAN cluster and generates aservice request signal, the probability that the demand is satisfied isincreased when the terminal for providing the service joins the NANcluster.

In this embodiment, containing the number of terminals which havetransmitted the service request signals in the discovery beacon has thefollowing advantage. That is, a terminal which is to newly join a NANcluster can increase a reference for selecting a NAN cluster. In thisembodiment, a terminal whose purpose is to join a NAN cluster andprovide a service can select a more appropriate NAN cluster inaccordance with the purpose.

Note that the terminal operating in the anchor master role contains, inthe discovery beacon, the number of terminals which transmit the servicerequest signals in this embodiment. In addition to or instead of this,the number of terminals which transmit service provision signals may becontained. The service provision signal will be described in the thirdembodiment. In this case, a terminal which is to newly join a NANcluster can select an appropriate NAN cluster in accordance with thepurpose of providing or receiving a service.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment will describe a case in which the total number ofterminals that transmit different types of service provision signals ina NAN cluster is calculated as the number of terminals, a notificationof which is to be sent. The service provision signal to be describedhere indicates, for example, a publish signal complying with the NANstandard, which is transmitted during the DW. The publish signal is asignal transmitted to indicate the type and option of a servicerequested by the terminal which transmits the signal. In thisembodiment, when a terminal operating in the anchor master roletransmits a discovery beacon containing the number of terminals thattransmit different types of service provision signals, a terminal whichis to newly join a NAN cluster can join a NAN cluster in which a largernumber of types of services are provided. This embodiment has, as itsfeature, to perform, by each of STAs 101 and 104, an operation to bedescribed below. A description of the same points as in the first andsecond embodiments will be omitted.

The functional blocks of the STA 101 according to this embodiment arethe same as those shown in FIG. 8 described in the second embodiment anda description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the secondembodiment is that a buffer for recording a service ID indicating aservice type is included in order for a terminal count calculation unit840 to measure service types.

A procedure in which the STA 101 calculates the number of terminalsbased on the number of types of service provision signals will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustratingan example of terminal count calculation processing according to thisembodiment. The STAs 101 and 104 have the same arrangement, and only theSTA 101 will be described. Processes up to step S1203 of FIG. 12 are thesame as those up to step S903 of FIG. 9 described in the secondembodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. Note that theterminal count calculation unit 840 records a service ID indicating aservice type in the buffer based on an already received serviceprovision signal.

If the received signal is identified in step S1203 as a signal of a NANcluster to which the STA 101 belongs (YES in step S1203), a NAN signalidentification unit 830 identifies whether the received signal is aservice provision signal (step S1204). If the received signal is aservice provision signal (YES in step S1204), the NAN signalidentification unit 830 notifies the terminal count calculation unit 840that the service provision signal has been received. Upon receiving thenotification, the terminal count calculation unit 840 determines whethera service ID corresponding to the received service provision signal isdifferent from that recorded in the buffer (step S1205). If the serviceIDs are different from each other (NO in step S1205), the service IDcorresponding to the received service provision signal is recorded inthe buffer, and 1 is added to the number (the initial value is zero) ofservice types (step S1206). The STA 101 repeats the above processingduring the DW period (YES in step S1207). If the DW period ends (NO instep S1207), the terminal count calculation unit 840 calculates thenumber of types of service provision signals as the number of terminalscapable of providing different services (step S1208). The aboveprocessing is performed all the time while NAN operates.

The structure of the beacon frame of the discovery beacon according tothis embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 10 described in thesecond embodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. Thisembodiment is different from the second embodiment in that aninformation type field 1002 indicates that the signal has a type ofservice provision signal, and a terminal count field 1005 indicates thetype of service provision signal.

Processing in which the STA 101 notifies a nearby terminal ofinformation obtaining by reflecting the number of terminals according tothis embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 described in thefirst embodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. In thisembodiment, however, a sequence when step S601 of FIG. 6 is executed isdifferent. This sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the sequence when step S601 of FIG. 6 isexecuted. During a DW period defined in a NAN cluster 106, STAs 102 and103 respectively transmit service provision signals (S1301). The STA 101saves the number of types of service provision signals transmittedduring the DW as the number of terminals in the terminal countcalculation unit 840 (S1302). More specifically, if a service IDcorresponding to the service provision signal transmitted by the STA 102is equal to that corresponding to the service provision signaltransmitted by the STA 103, the number of terminals calculated by theSTA 101 is 1. Furthermore, the number of terminals calculated by the STA104 is 0. The STA 101 includes the saved number of terminals in the NANattributes 1001 shown in FIG. 10, and transmits the information as adiscovery beacon. This allows the STA 100 to receive the informationcontaining the number of types of service provision signals transmittedin the NAN cluster.

As described above, in this embodiment, the terminal operating in theanchor master role notifies a nearby terminal of the number of types ofservice provision signals, thereby obtaining the following advantages.That is, if a terminal which is to newly join a NAN cluster discovers aplurality of NAN clusters, it can join a NAN cluster in which a largernumber of types of services are provided. Furthermore, if a terminalbelonging to a NAN cluster in which a small number of types of servicesare provided receives the discovery beacon of a NAN cluster in which alarge number of types of services are provided, it can join the NANcluster in which a large number of types of services are provided. Thisallows a terminal which is to join a NAN cluster and issue a servicerequest can select a NAN cluster in which a larger number of types ofservices can be provided. By excluding a service provision signalindicating the same service ID from a count target, a terminal which isto newly join a NAN cluster can obtain information in which the servicetype has been correctly reflected.

Fourth Embodiment

The fourth embodiment will describe a case in which the total number ofterminals that transmit sync beacons in a NAN cluster whose scale islarger is calculated. In this embodiment, a terminal operating in theanchor mater role performs an operation for calculating the number ofterminals each existing at a position where it cannot directly receive asignal, in addition to the operation described in the first embodiment.In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the terminaloperating in the anchor master role calculates the number of terminalswhich have transmitted sync beacons as the number of terminals, anotification of which is to be sent. Furthermore, in this embodiment,the terminal operating in the anchor master role indirectly notifies anearby terminal of the number of terminals by transmitting a discoverybeacon containing a changed master preference, similarly to the firstembodiment.

This embodiment has, as its feature, to perform, by each of STAs 101 to104, an operation to be described below. A description of the samepoints as in the first embodiment will be omitted. Since the STAs 101and 104 have the same arrangement and the STAs 102 and 103 have the samearrangement, only the STAs 101 and 103 will be described below in termsof the same points.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a network configuration assumed in thisembodiment. FIG. 14 shows a NAN cluster whose scale is enlarged, ascompared with the NAN cluster shown in FIG. 1. In addition to the STAs100 to 104 shown in FIG. 1, STAs 1400 to 1406 exist. The STAs 1401 to1406 are terminals joining a NAN cluster 106. In this embodiment, theSTA 1401 operates in the master role.

The functional block arrangement of each of the STAs 101 and 103according to this embodiment and the flowchart of master preferencechange processing according to this embodiment are respectively the sameas those shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 described in the first embodiment, and adescription thereof will be omitted. Note that processing executed by aterminal count calculation unit 240 is different from that in the firstembodiment. A procedure in which the STAs 101 and 103 calculate thenumber of terminals which have transmitted sync beacons based on thenumber of sync beacons and pieces of information contained in the syncbeacons will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of terminal countcalculation processing according to this embodiment. Processes up tostep S1504 are the same as those up to step S404 of FIG. 4 described inthe first embodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. If it isdetermined in step S1504 that a received signal is a sync beacon (YES instep S1504), the terminal count calculation unit 240 analyzes contentsof the sync beacon, and determines whether the hop count of the terminalwhich has transmitted the sync beacon is higher than that of the selfterminal (step S1505). The hop count indicates the number ofintermediate terminals (that is, the STA 101) from the terminal fortransmitting a signal to a terminal operating in the anchor master role.In the example of the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the hop counts ofthe STAs 101, 103, and 102 are respectively 0, 1, and 2. Since the hopcounts of the STAs 103 and 102 are higher than that of the STA 101 (YESin step S1505), the process advances to step S1506. The processing instep S1505 is performed to more quickly and efficiently transmit thediscovery beacon to the STA 100, and can be skipped.

In step S1506, the terminal count calculation unit 240 determineswhether the received sync beacon contains the number (scale element) ofsync beacons received by each terminal (step S1506). If the receivedsync beacon contains the number of sync beacons received by eachterminal (YES in step S1506), the terminal count calculation unit 240performs update processing by adding the number of sync beacons receivedby each terminal to the total number of sync beacons (step S1507). Evenif the received sync beacon contains no number of sync beacons receivedby each terminal, the terminal count calculation unit 240 increments thetotal number of sync beacons by one (step S1508). The STA 101 repeatsthe above processing during the DW period (step S1509). After the end ofthe DW period, the terminal count calculation unit 240 calculates thenumber of terminals from the counted total number of sync beacons, asfollows, and saves a calculation result (step S1510).(number of terminals)=(number of sync beacons)+1 [number of syncbeacons<128]=2{circumflex over ( )}8 [number of sync beacons≥128]  (4)

The structure of the beacon frame of the discovery beacon according tothis embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 10 described in thesecond embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Aprocedure in which the STA 103 relays terminal count information to theSTA 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is aflowchart illustrating an example of sync beacon transmissiondetermination processing according to this embodiment. First, the STA103 determines whether it has a role of transmitting the sync beacon.That is, the STA 103 determines whether it operates in the master roleor it does not operate in the master role but can transmit the syncbeacon. Since the STA 103 operates in the master role (YES in stepS1600), it transmits the sync beacon containing terminal countinformation (scale information) in accordance with the beacon structureexample shown in FIG. 10 (step S1601). The STA 101 can receive the syncbeacon from the STA 103, and calculate, based on the sync beacon, thenumber of terminals by including the number of terminals from which theSTA 101 cannot directly receive signals. The above processing isperformed all the time while NAN operates.

A method in which the STA 101 notifies a nearby terminal of informationobtained by reflecting the number of terminals according to thisembodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 described in the firstembodiment and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 17 shows anexample of a sequence when the STA 1401 executes step S601 of FIG. 6.FIG. 17 shows a sequence example when the number of terminals which havetransmitted signals is calculated and a nearby terminal is notified of achange according to this embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 17will be schematically explained. First, the STA 103 executes theprocessing in step S1601 of FIG. 16. Next, the STA 101 executes theprocessing in step S503 of FIG. 5, and transmits, based on the proceduredefined in NAN, the sync beacon obtained by reflecting the changedmaster preference. Lastly, the STA 1401 executes the processing in stepS601 of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 17, among the terminals joining the NAN cluster 106,terminals each having a role of transmitting a sync beacon transmit thesync beacons during a DW period defined in the NAN cluster 106 (S1700).In accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 15, the STA 103calculates, based on equation (3), the number of terminals which havetransmitted the signals within a range where the self terminal canreceive signals in the NAN cluster 106 (S1701). The STA 103 saves acalculation result. In the example of the configuration shown in FIG.14, the number of terminals calculated by the STA 103 is 7. The STA 103changes its master preference in accordance with the procedure shown inFIG. 5 (S1702). More specifically, the master preference of the STA 103is set to ((7−1)+128=)134. If the STA 103 has the role of transmittingthe sync beacon, it contains the calculation result of the calculatednumber of terminals in the sync beacon, and transmits the sync beacon toa nearby terminal during the DW (S1703).

The STA 101 operating in the anchor master role in the NAN cluster 106calculates the number of terminals in the overall NAN cluster 106 bycalculating the number of terminals in accordance with the procedureshown in FIG. 15 (S1704). In the example of the configuration shown inFIG. 14, the number of terminals calculated by the STA 101 is 10. Withreference to the result, the STA 101 changes its master preference(S1705). More specifically, the master preference of the STA 101 is setto ((10−1)+128=)137. Thus, the STA 101 can contain, in the discoverybeacon, as the anchor master rank, the master rank obtained byreflecting the master preference, and notify a nearby terminal of thediscovery beacon. Furthermore, this value is contained in the syncbeacon, and a nearby terminal belonging to the NAN cluster is notifiedof the sync beacon (S1706). Lastly, based on FIG. 5, the STA 1401contains the anchor master rank in the discovery beacon, and transmitsthe discovery beacon. This allows the STA 100 to receive the informationobtained by reflecting the number of terminals which have transmittedthe sync beacons in the NAN cluster 106 (S1707).

As described above, in this embodiment, even if a terminal operating inthe anchor master role cannot directly receive signals, it is possibleto calculate the number of terminals which have transmitted the syncbeacons in the NAN cluster 106, by counting the number of relayterminals. As enlargement of the NAN cluster progresses, the number ofsignals which can be directly received can be limited. However, byproviding relay terminals as in this embodiment, even in the enlargedNAN cluster, a terminal which is to newly join a NAN cluster can receiveinformation obtained by reflecting the number of terminals joining theNAN cluster.

Modification

The systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 for explaining the first to fourthembodiments are merely examples. For example, a system may include anynumber of terminals having different roles, and the number of terminalsmay be different from those in FIGS. 1 and 14. A timing at which aterminal operating in the anchor master role transmits a discoverybeacon may be different from that described in each embodiment. Forexample, in the first to fourth embodiments, the terminal operating inthe anchor master transmits the discovery beacon every 100 TUs. However,the discovery beacon may be transmitted every 80 TUs or every 90 TUs.Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the number of signalsduring one DW is set as an element of a NAN cluster. However, thecumulative value of the numbers of signals during a plurality of DWs maybe used. For example, the number of terminals can be calculated usingthe cumulative value of signals transmitted during past two DWs.

Although the sequence of calculating the number of terminals is operatedall the time while the NAN function operates in the first to fourthembodiments, it may be operated by a trigger. For example, a terminalfor calculating the number of terminals may calculate the number ofterminals every time the DW period ends or immediately before each DWperiod starts. If the types of terminals for transmitting signals arethe same, signals transmitted from the respective terminals areprocessed as different signals in the above-described embodiments butmay be processed as one signal.

The equation for terminal count calculation and that for the masterpreference in the first and fourth embodiments are merely examples. Anyequations which increase the value of the number of terminals along withan increase in the number of signals hold. For example, by considering acase in which terminals for transmitting no signals also exist,calculation may be performed by assuming that the number of terminals istwice the number of sync beacons. Conversely, calculation may beperformed by assuming that the number of terminals is ½ the number ofsync beacons. By considering a value range, the master preference may beincremented by one for every two terminals. Conversely, the masterpreference may be incremented by two for each terminal.

The timings at which the master preference is changed in the first andfourth embodiments are merely examples, and the master preference may bechanged by an arbitrary trigger. For example, the terminal operating inthe anchor master role may confirm whether the master preference can bechanged every time the DW period ends, or periodically confirm whetherto change the master preference during a changeable period. A periodduring which the master preference is fixed may be a period differentfrom the above-described one, and may be, for example, a period of 350DWs.

In the second to fourth embodiments, terminal count information isincluded in the vendor specific attributes of the beacon frame. However,this is merely an example. A method of including a value in theserviceInfo field of the service descriptor attribute of the beaconframe may be considered.

Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, a signal transmitted from a giventerminal can be received by a plurality of terminals, and theinformation of the terminal may be calculated as a plurality ofterminals. Thus, if a plurality of terminals receive a signal, it may bedetermined to eliminate the overlapping.

Each of the first to fourth embodiments can be solely executed. Theseembodiments, however, can be executed in combination. In addition to themethods described in the above-described embodiments, the followingterminal count notification methods can be considered. For example, thenumber of sync beacons described in the first embodiment may be includedin the beacon frame, and the number of service provision signals may bereflected in the value of the master preference. The number of servicerequest signals described in the second embodiment may be reflected inthe value of the master preference, and the number of types of serviceprovision signals described in the third embodiment may be reflected inthe value of the master preference. The number of types of servicerequest signals may be reflected in the value of the master preference,and the number of service provision signals may be included in thebeacon frame. The number of types of service request signals may beincluded in the beacon frame. The fourth embodiment may be applied tothe first to third embodiments, and the terminal operating in the anchormaster role may calculate the number of terminals with respect toindirectly received signals (relayed and received signals).

A case in which information indicating the scale of the NAN clusterbased on information received by the anchor master is transmitted hasbeen described. However, an apparatus having another role may transmitthe information. For example, a master which does not operate in theanchor master role may contain, in a sync beacon or discovery beacon,the information indicating the scale of the NAN cluster based onreceived information, and transmit the sync beacon or discovery beacon.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiments, aterminal which is to newly join a NAN cluster can join a NAN clusterwhich receives desired information at higher probability, by dynamicallysending a notification of the number of terminals calculated based onsignals in the NAN cluster. A terminal joining a NAN cluster whichreceives desired information at low probability can move to a NANcluster having higher probability.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2015-187442, filed Sep. 24, 2015 which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication apparatuscommunicable in a system in which a predetermined period to transmit orreceive a beacon is shared in a wireless network, comprising: at leastone memory storing instructions; and at least one processor that, uponexecution of the instructions, functions as a reception unit configuredto receive signals during the predetermined period; and a setting unitconfigured to set a value to be used in determining whether to play arole of transmitting a signal for causing another wireless communicationapparatus not belonging to the wireless network to recognize thewireless network, based on first information about a number oftransmission sources of the signals received by the reception unit. 2.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets thevalue based on information about the number of transmission sources of asignal indicating the predetermined period.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the value based on informationabout the number of transmission sources of signals for searching orproviding services.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in acase where the signals received by the reception unit include secondinformation related to a number of apparatuses, the setting unit setsthe value to be used in determining whether to play the role based onthe first information and the second information.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the setting units sets the value to beused in determining whether to play the role to be a larger value as thefirst information indicates a larger value.
 6. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets MasterPreference defined inthe Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) of the wireless communicationapparatus as a value used in determining whether to play the role. 7.The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmissionunit configured to transmit a signal for causing the other wirelesscommunication apparatus not belonging to the wireless network torecognize the wireless network, wherein the signal includes the valueset by the setting unit to be used in determining whether to play therole.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unitreceives a signal about Neighbor Awareness networking (NAN) during adiscovery window of NAN as the predetermined period.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the signal for causing the other wirelesscommunication apparatus to recognize the wireless network is a discoverybeacon defined by Neighbor Awareness networking (NAN), and contains amaster preference based on the number of transmission sources of thesignals received by the reception unit.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the signal for causing to recognize the wirelessnetwork is a DiscoveryBeacon defined in the Neighbor AwarenessNetworking (NAN).
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one processor further functions as a transmission unit configuredto transmit a signal indicating the predetermined period, wherein thesignal includes the value set by the setting unit to be used indetermining whether to play the role.
 12. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the predetermined period is shared using a Sync Beacondefined in the Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN).
 13. A wirelesscommunication method comprising: receiving, in a system in which apredetermined period to transmit or receive a beacon is shared in awireless network, signals during the predetermined period; and setting avalue to be used in determining whether to play a role of transmitting asignal for causing another wireless communication apparatus notbelonging to the wireless network to recognize the wireless network,based on information about a number of transmission sources of thesignals received in the receiving.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causinga computer to execute a wireless communication method, the methodcomprising: receiving, in a system in which a predetermined period totransmit or receive a beacon is shared in a wireless network, signalsduring the predetermined period; and setting a value to be used indetermining whether to play a role of transmitting a signal for causinganother wireless communication apparatus not belonging to the wirelessnetwork to recognize the wireless network, based on information about anumber of transmission sources of the signals received in the receiving.